Adjustable mast-support for vessels



(No Model.)

J. T. MATTHEWS. ADJUSTABLE MAST SUPPORT FOR VESSELS.

No. 457,323. Patented Aug. 4, 1891.

( 2 Z i' Iw M m UNITED STATES JOHN T. MATTHEWS, OF ANNAPOLIS,ASSIGNOR'TO LEONARD PATENT OFFICE,

M. LEVERING,

OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 457,323, dated August4, 1891.

Application filed November 26, 1890. Serial No. 372,726. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that 1, JOHN T. MATTHEWS, acitizen of the United States, residing at Annapolis, in the county ofAnne Arundel and State of Maryland, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Adjustable Mast- Supports for Vessels, of which thefollowing is a specification. v

This invention has for its object to provide a novel support for themast of a sailing-vessel, whereby the mastcan be conveniently andrapidly lowered fore and aft to place it in an approximately horizontalposition if oceasion should therefor arrive-as, for instance, in astorm, or in passing under bridges, or to reduce the rolling of a vesselin a high sea, or to so adjust the mast that it will aid in floating thevessel if aground fore or aft.

The invention also has for its object to pro-' vide novel means forswinging the mast in a vertical plane fore or aft, or ateither side ofthe vessel to render the mast susceptible of being utilized as a meansfor loading and unloading a vessel with or Without block and 2 5 tackle.

The invention also has forits object to provide novel means whereby amast can be conveniently raised or lowered and readily removed from itsheel-support for repairs or the substitution of a new mast, as occasionmay demand.

The invention also has for its objectto provide a mast-support of suchconstruction that the mast is locked in a perpendicular position or atany angle of inclination fore or aft, or laterally at either side of thevessel without the employment of block-and-tackle mechanism orextraneous locking devices.

To accomplish all these objects my invention involves the features ofconstruction, the combination or arrangement of devices, and theprinciples of operation hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is asectional view of a portlon of avessel, showing the manner of applylngthe improved mast-support. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of themast-support. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the same,

and Fig. 4 is ahorizontal sectional view taken on the line m a: of Fig.3.

In order to enable those skilled in the artv to make and use myinvention, I will now describe the same in detail, referring to thedrawings, where The numeral 1 indicates a sailing-vessel of any type orconstruction and having a thwart 2 and a step arranged on its keelson.The mast-support comprises a metallic frame, preferably cast integralwith parallel upright cheek pieces 4 and a circular baseplate 5, fromthe center of which atits under side depends a circular hub or journal5, formed hollow to receive awooden or other post 6, which is adapted toset and axially turn in the step on the keelson. The hub or journal isdesigned to set within asuitable socket provided in the thwart 2 in suchmanner that the entire metallic frame can be rotated axially.

A Worm '7, provided with a shaft 8, is jour- 7o naled in bearings orboxes 9, located on the base-plate between the cheek-pieces, and thisworm engages a Worm-Wheel 10, which is mounted upon a suitable shaft 11,having its bcaringsin the cheek-pieces, whereby a ro-- 7 5 tary movementof the horizontal worm will impart "a turning movement to the wormwheel.The worm-wheel is provided with a rigidly-attached socket12, in the formof a cup, for receiving the heel of the mast 13, So which may be securedin the cup-shaped socket in any manner suitable forthe conditionsrequired, but as here shown is held by a series of set-screwsl4,'extending through the socket and engagingthe heel of the mast. Thecup-shaped socket may be formed integral with the worm-wheel, or it maybe rigidly attached thereto in any suit-able manner, the constructionbeing such that by turning the worm-shaft in the proper direction 2 theworm-wheel may be rotated in a vertical plane, whereby the mast islowered to an approximately horizontal position on the sailing-vessel. Iprefer to rotate the Worm-shaft through the medium of an ordinary crank15; 5 but obviously any suitable device or mechanism may be employed forturning the worm and imparting the desired motion to the worm-wheel. Therotation of the worm-shaft in one direction will lower the mast towardthe prow of the vessel, while the rotation of the worm-shaft in theopposite direction will lower the mast toward the stern of the vessel.

If the metallic frame be turned axially through the medium of its hub orjournal, the mast can be lowered laterally at either side of the vesselin various positions. By the engagement of the worm with the worm wheelthe mast will be held in any position to whiclradjusted, for obviouslyit is impossible for the worm-wheel to turn unless the worm isintentionally rotated; but I prefer to provide a locking device forretaining the worm-wheel against rotation in case of breakage of orinjury to the worm. This locking device may consist simply of alocking-pin 16, adapted to pass through orifices 17, Fig. 4, inthecheek-pieces of the metallic frame and the worm-wheel. The constructionof the mast-support is such that the mast can be removed from thecup-shaped socket it repairs be necessary or if a new mast is desirable.

By the swiveling of the metallic frame the mast can be lowered fore oraft or laterally at either side of the vessel, which is useful in thatthe weight of the mast can be thrown in any direction desired to aid infloating the vessel if any part thereof is aground. The swiveling of themast-support also enables the mast to be utilized after the manner of aderrick for loading and unloading vessels and other similar purposes,and this can be effected without block-an d-tackle mechanism, since themast can be raised and lowered in various positions within a circularline round the vessel.

The invention is useful for all light sailingcrafts, schooners, and thelike, and provides for conveniently raising and lowering the mastwithout block-and-tackle mechanism.

It will be obvious that my invention is useful for flag-staffs,derricks, and like purposes, and therefore I do not confine myself toany particular use of the mast-support.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A mast-supportfor sailing-vessels, consisting of a worm-wheel carrying the mast, aframe adapted to be supported by a part of the vessel and carrying theworm-wheel, and a worm journaled on the frame for rotating theworm-wheel to raise and lower the mast fore or aft, substantially asdescribed.

2. A mast-support for sailing-vessels, consisting of a worm-wheel havinga cup-shaped socket for receiving the heel of the mast, a frame adaptedto be supported by a part of the vessel and carrying the worm-wheel, anda worm for rotating the worm-wheel to raise and lower the mast,substantially as described.

3. A mast-support for sailing-vessels, consisting of an axially-rotatingframe, a wormwheel journaled on the frame and carrying the mast, and aworm journaled to said frame and serving to turn the worm-wheel forswinging the mast in a vertical plane fore or aft or laterally to eitherside of the vessel, substantially as described.

4. A mast-support for sailing-vessels, consisting of a frame having abase-plate provided with a pendent hub or journal, a post secured to thehub or journal and adapted to rest in a step on the keelson, a wormjournaled on the frame, and a worm-wheel supported by the frame andcarrying a mast, substantially as described.

5. A mast-support for sailing-vessels, consisting of a frame havingcheek-pieces and a base plate provided with a pendent hub, a wormjournaled in the frame, and a wormwheel jou rnaled between thecheek-pieces and having a socket for the heel of a mast, substantiallyas described.

6. A mast-support for a sailing-vessel, consisting of a frame, a wormjournaled thereon, and a worm-wheel supported by the frame and having acup-shaped socket provided with set-screws for holding a mast,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses. v

JOHN T. MATTHEWS.

W'itnesses:

J AS. REVELL, J. ROLAND BRADY.

It is hefiijEiiifieaaaiileaers PatentlV granted August 4, l89h theapplication of John '1. Matthews, of Annapolis, Maryland, for animprovement in Adjustable Mast-Supports for Vessels, was erroneouslyissued to Leonard M. Lever-i ing, of Baltimore, Maryland, as owner ofthe entire interest in said invention; that said Letters Patent shouldhave been issued to said John T. Matthews and said Leonard M. Levering,jointly, said Levering, being assignee of one-half interest only in saidinvention as shown by the assignments of record in this office and thatsaid Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that thesame may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 11th day of August, A. D. 1891.

[SEAL] CYRUS BUSSEY,

' Assistant Secretary of the Interior. if Gountersigned: r

W. E. SIMoNns,

Commissioner of Patents.

